Bridge for stringed musical instruments.



G. D. LAURIAN.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLIGATION FILED 11111314, 1909 934,678, Patented Sept; 21, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. LAURIAN, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHTGAN, ASSIGNOR '10 GIBSON MANDOLIN- GUITAR COMPANY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. LAURIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bridges for stringed musical instruments.

My improved bridge is particularly adapted and designed by me for use on stringed musical instruments having frets, such as mandolins, guitars, and the like, although it possesses certain features of advantage for use on unfretted instruments, such as violins.

It is well understood that for example in the mandolin type of stringed musical instruments, there is a tendency for the tones in the upper positions to sharp, particularly on the heavier strings, because the heavier strings are stiffer in action, and therefore, do not stretch or give as readily as the lighter strings, and when the strings are changed as from a wound to an unwound string there is a tendency to sharp or flat ac cordingly as the bridge is adjusted for the one or the other so that readjustment is desirable.

It is the main object of this invention to provide an improved bridge for stringed musical instruments which may be adjusted to adapt the same to strings of different sizes and to wound and plain strings and to different instruments, and to difierent methods of tuning the instrument, and to in a large measure compensate for the tendency stated, thereby securing a more perfect equalization of the instrument.

Another object is to provide an improved bridge which may be readjusted to compensate for settling of the instrument by the renewal of certain parts only.

Further objects and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The structure described constitutes one effective embodiment Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 1909.

Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

Serial No. 502,060.

of my invention. Other embodiments would be readily devised by those skilled in the art.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure constituting an effective and preferred embodiment of the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mandolin embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved bridge. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 4: is a cross section, taken on a line corre sponding to line t-4t of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the base portion of my improved bridge. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stringed rests.

In the drawing, similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the body 1 of the instrument illustrated is of the mandolin type and is provided with the usual finger board 2 having frets 3 thereon. The strings t are arranged in the well known manner.

My improved bridge consists of a base portion 5 having a plurality of openings therein to receive the string rests 6, the openings being preferably in the form of parallel longitudinal grooves 7 adapted to receive the bridge engaging tongues or members 8 of the string rests. These engaging tongues or members 8 of the rests are preferably offset from the vertical centers of the rests, so that, by reversing the rests in the grooves, the

, positions of the rests'relative to the strings are changed; also, the positions of the rests may be varied by shifting in the grooves.

The bridge illustrated, having two of the rest-engaging grooves in each rest, may be adjusted to four positions, so that the rests may be easily adjusted to accommodate for the different sizes of strings and for different arrangement of the finger board relative to the sounding board,that is, the nearer the strings approach a parallel with the finger board, the less variation is required in the bridge adjustment and Vice versa. A further advantage of this construction is that the sounding board of the instrument frearia quently settles with age to such an extent {center of said rests whereby the position of that a new bridge is required. As the bridge and sounding board conform to each other, to provide the instrument with an entirely new bridge changes the tone of the inst-rument, but, by means of my improved removable and adjustable rests, the rests may be changed and the instrument thus repaired without atl ecting its tone.

My improved bridge may be adjusted by the user to adapt the same to the particular string used, and, at the same time, when adjusted, there is no possibility of the rests becoming displaced or changing posit-ion accidentally, or while the instrument is in use.

My improved bridge is very simple and economical in structure, and, at the same time, it possesses the advantageous features pointed out.

I have illustrated and described my improved bridge in detail in an embodiment which I have found practical in use. I am, however, aware, that it is capable of considerable variation in structural details without departing from my invention. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe such variations, as the embodiment illustrated will enable those skilled in the art to apply the invention, under various conditions arising in the practical application of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in its upper edge; and a plurality of string rests having grooveengaging tongues thereon, .aid tongues being otl'set from the vertical center ot' said rests whereby the position of said rests may be changed by shifting or reversing them in the said grooves. i

2. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion having a plurality of longitudinal rooves in its upper edge; and a plurality of string rests having grooveengaging tongues thereon.

3. It bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion having a groove in its upper edge, and a plurality of string rests having groove-engaging tongues thereon, said tongues being o'tlset from the vertical said rests may be changed by reversing them in the said groove.

at. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion having a groove in its upper edge, and av plurality of string rests having groove-engaging tongues thereon.

5. A bridge for stringed instrun'ients, comprising a base portion and a plu ality of string rests, said bridge portion and st ing rests having co-acting engaging portions, the engaging portions of said string rests being ott'set from their vertical centers whereby the position of said rests on said bridge may be changed by shifting or reversing them in said engaging portions of said bridge.

6. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion and a plurality of string rests, said bridge portion and string rests having co-acting engaging portions, the engaging portions of said string rests being otl'set from their vertical centers whereby the position of said rests on said bridge may be changed by reversing them in said engaging portions of said bridge.

7. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion and a plurality oi. string rests, said bridge portion and string rests having co-acting engaging portions, whereby the position of said rests on said bridge may be changed by reversing them in said engaging portions of said bridge.

8. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising a base portion and a plurality of string rests, said rests having tongues there on, and said bridge having grooves to receive said tongues, the tongues of said rests being otl set t'rom their vertical centers, coactin for the purpose specified.

9. A bridge vtor stringed instruments, comprising a base portion and a plurality of string rests, said rests having tongues thereon, and said bridge having grooves to receive said tongues, coacting tor the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hegeunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE D. LAURIAN. lVitnesses:

Criona E. BRADEN,

Mluzeann'r L. GLASGOW. 

